1. Describe the stasis in the play: where, when, who, what, etc. in a paragraph.
The Normal Heart occurs in New York City during the early 1980s AIDS epidemic. The main characters of the play are Dr. Emma Brookner, and Ned Weeks. Although Brookner is stuck in a wheel chair due to polio, she easily intimidates many people. Alongside her is Ned Weeks. He is very much determined to get the word out on this epidemic that many are just brushing underneath the rug.
2. What is the intrusion?
The intrusion occurs when Ned finds a spot on Felix's foot that is a symptom of AIDS. This gave Ned an even greater reason to help get the word out on this disease.
3. What is the unique factor?
This is the day that Ned finds out the severeness of this AIDS epidemic.
4. What is the dramatic question that should be answered by the end of the play?
Will a cure be found?
Will Felix be cured?
Will Ned really make people realize the severeness of this epidemic?
5. Provide an illustration of the two kinds of exposition that the play has in it.
The fist kind of exposition is that the audience knows about the mystery disease of which we all know as AIDS. The second kind of exposition within the play is that both the audience and the characters know the potential potency of the disease and the severity of it spreading.
6. Identify the most theatrical moment in the play and of what importance it seems to be.
The most theatrical moment for me would probably be the intrusion of the play. When Ned finds the spot on Felix the fear and sadness that further pushes Ned makes the scene the most dramatic and the most memorable in my opinion.
7. List some of the themes of the play.
Disease Awareness
Equality
Loss
Discrimination
8. What does Ned want and what are some obstacles that stand in the way of his getting what he wants?
Ned wants to stop the epidemic from spreading even more than it already has. He wants to make people aware of this life threatening disease. The major obstacle in his way is the community. He has to convince a whole community to stop having sex until a cure is found. In most cases if a couple has a good sex life and some man was telling them to stop having sex due to an epidemic that they have never heard of, then more than likely they will just ignore the mans demands.
9. Describe some possible images in the play and how does the title help us understand the play.
The title of the play helps understand the play because it shows that there is not a difference between a heterosexuals heart and a homosexuals heart. They are the same thing. Its all about equality. That's what the title want the audience to understand. In the play this helps to show that this disease can occur in heterosexuals and homosexuals.
10. Briefly define the family relationships that are examined in the play.
The family relationship in this play is once again a rocky one. Ned's brother Ben does not consider Ned his equal. The two fought a lot and the fight that really crossed the line for Ned is when Ben bought the 2 million dollar home. This caused Ned to vow that he will never speak to Ben again. This anger toward each other almost seemed gone after Felix died. Maybe after this traumatic incident in their lives caused them to become close and value each other. I like to think that they saw each other as equals.
The Normal Heart occurs in New York City during the early 1980s AIDS epidemic. The main characters of the play are Dr. Emma Brookner, and Ned Weeks. Although Brookner is stuck in a wheel chair due to polio, she easily intimidates many people. Alongside her is Ned Weeks. He is very much determined to get the word out on this epidemic that many are just brushing underneath the rug.
2. What is the intrusion?
The intrusion occurs when Ned finds a spot on Felix's foot that is a symptom of AIDS. This gave Ned an even greater reason to help get the word out on this disease.
3. What is the unique factor?
This is the day that Ned finds out the severeness of this AIDS epidemic.
4. What is the dramatic question that should be answered by the end of the play?
Will a cure be found?
Will Felix be cured?
Will Ned really make people realize the severeness of this epidemic?
5. Provide an illustration of the two kinds of exposition that the play has in it.
The fist kind of exposition is that the audience knows about the mystery disease of which we all know as AIDS. The second kind of exposition within the play is that both the audience and the characters know the potential potency of the disease and the severity of it spreading.
6. Identify the most theatrical moment in the play and of what importance it seems to be.
The most theatrical moment for me would probably be the intrusion of the play. When Ned finds the spot on Felix the fear and sadness that further pushes Ned makes the scene the most dramatic and the most memorable in my opinion.
7. List some of the themes of the play.
Disease Awareness
Equality
Loss
Discrimination
8. What does Ned want and what are some obstacles that stand in the way of his getting what he wants?
Ned wants to stop the epidemic from spreading even more than it already has. He wants to make people aware of this life threatening disease. The major obstacle in his way is the community. He has to convince a whole community to stop having sex until a cure is found. In most cases if a couple has a good sex life and some man was telling them to stop having sex due to an epidemic that they have never heard of, then more than likely they will just ignore the mans demands.
9. Describe some possible images in the play and how does the title help us understand the play.
The title of the play helps understand the play because it shows that there is not a difference between a heterosexuals heart and a homosexuals heart. They are the same thing. Its all about equality. That's what the title want the audience to understand. In the play this helps to show that this disease can occur in heterosexuals and homosexuals.
10. Briefly define the family relationships that are examined in the play.
The family relationship in this play is once again a rocky one. Ned's brother Ben does not consider Ned his equal. The two fought a lot and the fight that really crossed the line for Ned is when Ben bought the 2 million dollar home. This caused Ned to vow that he will never speak to Ben again. This anger toward each other almost seemed gone after Felix died. Maybe after this traumatic incident in their lives caused them to become close and value each other. I like to think that they saw each other as equals.